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National Centre for Writing CEO Chris Gribble leaves the organisation after 17 years of ‘unprecedented growth and success’

  • Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing and Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post at the end of September 2023 after 17 years He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in Norwich on 2 October 2023
  • Recruitment for Chris Gribble’s replacement will commence over the coming weeks. See nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for details

Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing (NCW), based in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post in September 2023 after 17 years of growth, transformation, and achievement. He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in October, replacing retiring CEO Tim Bishop. Chris moved to Norwich in 2006 to join the organisation under its original name of New Writing Partnership. Beginning as a small, regional start-up of three staff, he has steered the team through an extraordinary period of evolution which saw them develop into Writers’ Centre Norwich, the literature development agency for the East of England, and then National Centre for Writing: a national and international hub of creativity which supports early-career writers and literary translators and invites individuals and communities to explore and celebrate the power of creative writing. Chris said: ‘Leading the growth and development of NCW over recent years has been a huge privilege and enormous fun. The NCW team and our partners have always ensured that the challenges we’ve faced have been ultimately surmountable and I feel very lucky to have worked in such an amazing city, region and sector. I have always been passionate about the ways in which words and stories can change lives, and this role has given me unparalleled opportunities to explore this passion in projects that have stretched from intimate partnerships with local communities in Norwich to global partnerships with British Council and Arts Council England. I am looking forward to taking this commitment into my next exciting role and seeing the next chapter of National Centre for Writing as it develops.’ Chris and his team led the bid for Norwich to become England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, only the sixth in the world at that time and now one of UNESCO’s 42 Cities of Literature worldwide. He also led the £2.2m capital development of NCW’s physical home at Dragon Hall in 2018, which saw Patrons Nobel laureate JM Coetzee, Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain, Ali Smith, Professor Kei Miller, Elif Shafak, Jon McGregor, John Boyne, Anthony Horowitz and Sarah Perry – all attendees of NCW events and visitors to Norwich over the years – pledge their support for NCW’s work. Chris has championed the work of local writers and artists and worked tirelessly to secure the future success of arts and culture in the region, including the delivery of a four-year project to support the development and diversification of the next generation of arts leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk in partnership with Arts Council England, New Anglia LEP, UEA, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council. He has also brought NCW’s work to the global stage; building long-term, ongoing partnerships with, among others, British Council, Arts Council Korea, National Arts Council Singapore and partners in India, Japan, Myanmar, the US and across Europe, to support the development of literary translation and best practice in writer development internationally. Alan Waters, Chair of the NCW Board and Leader of Norwich City Council said: ‘Chris has done a magnificent job of putting stories, literature and writing at the heart of Norwich’s cultural identity and putting Norwich on the map globally as a centre of literary exchange and excellence. We are pleased he will be remaining in the city and are excited to welcome his successor to NCW later in the year to carry on telling NCW’s story.” Sarah Crown, Director of Literature for Arts Council England, added: ‘NCW is a critical part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of arts organisations and Chris has done a brilliant job of leading his team and the wider stakeholders and partners over recent years. Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at University of East Anglia and NCW Board Member, said: ‘UEA has been a core stakeholder in NCW since its inception and we are as proud to have been part of its past as we are to be part of its future. As the home of Creative Writing in the UK, UEA understands the vital role writers and literary translators play in our creative, cultural and economic lives and support the outstanding work NCW does and local, regional, national and international levels.’ Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of the Communities Committee for Norfolk County Council, said: ‘NCW plays a critical role in the cultural and social life of our county and Norfolk County Council has been proud to support Chris and his team delivering for the people who live here, work here and visit here in a range of projects, partnerships and initiatives over many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming a new leader to NCW in the autumn and carrying on our partnership.’ NCW will be recruiting Chris Gribble’s replacement over the coming weeks. Please see nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for more details.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association pledges its commitment to sustainability with a Solar PV installation at the Norfolk Showground Events Centre

The Norfolk Showground is set to generate 102% of its electrical needs each year after collaborating on one of Norfolk’s largest solar panel projects with Norwich-based energy consultants, Indigo Swan. Fearn Ainsworth, RNAA Commercial Development Manager and Oliver Denison, Head of Sustainability at Indigo Swan with one of the solar panels at the Norfolk Events Centre. Photo: Paul Macro. The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and Norfolk Showground champion working with local businesses. Fearn Ainsworth of RNAA and Oliver Denison of Indigo Swan. Photo: Paul Macro. Indigo Swan, a local energy consultancy based in Norwich that already works with Norfolk Showground, produced a comprehensive package of the solar panels it could supply, what the whole project could look like, and what the return on investment could be. Once contracts were agreed upon, Indigo Swan worked with Power Different who completed the installation of the panels – a system of 624 JA Solar 380kW panels, installed on the south side of the Norfolk Events Centre roof, spanning the whole length of the building. 624 JA Solar 380kW panels have been installed on the south side of the Norfolk Events Centre roof. Photo: Power Different Fearn Ainsworth, Commercial Development Manager at the RNAA and Norfolk Showground couldn’t be happier with the finished product and the working relationship between these two local businesses during the entire project. She said, “The whole process has been fantastic, right through from contract negotiations, to selling the electricity back to the grid, it’s just been great.” Oliver Denison, Head of Sustainability at Indigo Swan, who oversaw the project, was thrilled to be working with Norfolk Showground on one of its largest projects. “It’s been fantastic to work on a project with the Showground, an extremely well-known name in the region, and because of the lovely work that they do. It was a privilege to work with Chris and his team at Power Different, who played a vital role in the installation. With the Showground hosting multiple events we had to also work closely with Mike Parker, Norfolk Showground Site Delivery Manager to coordinate the installation around the calendar of events and limit the disruption to the site, whilst managing the challenges of over-sheeting the roof and erecting scaffolding during the installation. It was a great team effort from everyone involved!” The Solar PV panels have been such a success that the return on investment has already been reduced from five years to three years. Photo: Power Different A sunny outlook for future energy production It is anticipated that the panels will generate 102% of Norfolk Showground’s electrical needs across the whole year, which is an approximate equivalent of 210,000kW hours annually. This will have a significant impact on the consumption at the busy Norfolk Events Centre, with the Showground looking ahead to hopefully expand on this and add panels to the north side roof in addition to what has already been installed. Currently, the main feed of generated electricity goes directly to the whole of the Norfolk Showground site, with any additional energy produced being sold back to the grid. In the future, there are hopes to use battery storage as an alternative so the site can benefit from all the energy produced. After such a short time, the panels are already seeing a much larger increase in the generation of electricity than was originally anticipated. In the three months since the installation, even with this being during the winter months, the sunshine has had such an impact that the forecasted return on investment has already dropped from five years to three years. This is such a positive outcome and shows how successful renewable energy initiatives can really be. What does the future hold for the RNAA’s and Norfolk Showground’s sustainability plans? Currently, the Association is completing a review of Norfolk Showground’s carbon footprint, with the recent solar panel project being the first piece of work towards its sustainability initiative. Not afraid to take on the challenge, it aims to be the exemplar events venue in the East Anglian region by pushing forwards with this sustainability agenda during 2023 and beyond. To support this goal, the Showground is also working with Anglian Demolition and its waste solutions, so that from the Norfolk Events Centre’s waste, everything possible is either recycled or reutilised for energy purposes. For events, the centre has reuseable cups and cutleries and it doesn’t allow generators on-site during the Royal Norfolk Show. It is also working on a sustainability program for any event organisers that are using the Showground with a list of dos and don’ts of things that the centre expects from a sustainability perspective. Any boards or booklets used at the Royal Norfolk Show are all produced on either recycled or recyclable materials. For a list of events taking place at Norfolk Showground’s Events Centre or to find out how to organise your own event there, please visit norfolkshowground.co.uk

National Centre for Writing CEO Chris Gribble leaves the organisation after 17 years of ‘unprecedented growth and success’

  • Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing and Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post at the end of September 2023 after 17 years He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in Norwich on 2 October 2023
  • Recruitment for Chris Gribble’s replacement will commence over the coming weeks. See nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for details

Chris Gribble, CEO of National Centre for Writing (NCW), based in Norwich UNESCO City of Literature, will be leaving his post in September 2023 after 17 years of growth, transformation, and achievement. He will take up the post of CEO of The Forum Trust in October, replacing retiring CEO Tim Bishop. Chris moved to Norwich in 2006 to join the organisation under its original name of New Writing Partnership. Beginning as a small, regional start-up of three staff, he has steered the team through an extraordinary period of evolution which saw them develop into Writers’ Centre Norwich, the literature development agency for the East of England, and then National Centre for Writing: a national and international hub of creativity which supports early-career writers and literary translators and invites individuals and communities to explore and celebrate the power of creative writing. Chris said: ‘Leading the growth and development of NCW over recent years has been a huge privilege and enormous fun. The NCW team and our partners have always ensured that the challenges we’ve faced have been ultimately surmountable and I feel very lucky to have worked in such an amazing city, region and sector. I have always been passionate about the ways in which words and stories can change lives, and this role has given me unparalleled opportunities to explore this passion in projects that have stretched from intimate partnerships with local communities in Norwich to global partnerships with British Council and Arts Council England. I am looking forward to taking this commitment into my next exciting role and seeing the next chapter of National Centre for Writing as it develops.’ Chris and his team led the bid for Norwich to become England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, only the sixth in the world at that time and now one of UNESCO’s 42 Cities of Literature worldwide. He also led the £2.2m capital development of NCW’s physical home at Dragon Hall in 2018, which saw Patrons Nobel laureate JM Coetzee, Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain, Ali Smith, Professor Kei Miller, Elif Shafak, Jon McGregor, John Boyne, Anthony Horowitz and Sarah Perry – all attendees of NCW events and visitors to Norwich over the years – pledge their support for NCW’s work. Chris has championed the work of local writers and artists and worked tirelessly to secure the future success of arts and culture in the region, including the delivery of a four-year project to support the development and diversification of the next generation of arts leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk in partnership with Arts Council England, New Anglia LEP, UEA, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council. He has also brought NCW’s work to the global stage; building long-term, ongoing partnerships with, among others, British Council, Arts Council Korea, National Arts Council Singapore and partners in India, Japan, Myanmar, the US and across Europe, to support the development of literary translation and best practice in writer development internationally. Alan Waters, Chair of the NCW Board and Leader of Norwich City Council said: ‘Chris has done a magnificent job of putting stories, literature and writing at the heart of Norwich’s cultural identity and putting Norwich on the map globally as a centre of literary exchange and excellence. We are pleased he will be remaining in the city and are excited to welcome his successor to NCW later in the year to carry on telling NCW’s story.” Sarah Crown, Director of Literature for Arts Council England, added: ‘NCW is a critical part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of arts organisations and Chris has done a brilliant job of leading his team and the wider stakeholders and partners over recent years. Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities at University of East Anglia and NCW Board Member, said: ‘UEA has been a core stakeholder in NCW since its inception and we are as proud to have been part of its past as we are to be part of its future. As the home of Creative Writing in the UK, UEA understands the vital role writers and literary translators play in our creative, cultural and economic lives and support the outstanding work NCW does and local, regional, national and international levels.’ Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of the Communities Committee for Norfolk County Council, said: ‘NCW plays a critical role in the cultural and social life of our county and Norfolk County Council has been proud to support Chris and his team delivering for the people who live here, work here and visit here in a range of projects, partnerships and initiatives over many years. We’re looking forward to welcoming a new leader to NCW in the autumn and carrying on our partnership.’ NCW will be recruiting Chris Gribble’s replacement over the coming weeks. Please see nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk for more details.

Ashtons Legal partner appointed as first female chair of national society

Sharon Allison from Ashtons Legal LLP has been appointed as the first female chair of The Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL). Sharon previously held the role of Vice Chair and took up her new role in May 2023. SCIL is a member organisation for specialist claimant solicitor firms who work in the field of clinical negligence.  They have 75 members and are led by an executive team made up of the very best specialists in the field. The Society works closely with its membership to drive changes and clarity on a wide range of issues relevant to practitioners. Previous successes include making the process easier for obtaining records of deceased patients, drafting the COVID-19 Clinical Negligence Protocol which led over £30 million in costs savings to the NHS/ the taxpayer and challenging the Government on its proposals around Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC). There is an annual conference for members which in her new role, Sharon will be leading and delivering along with the executive team. Sharon is Head of Medical Negligence at Ashtons Legal, which is ranked Band 1 for Clinical Negligence by Chambers and Partners.  She sits on the management board at the firm and is also a Fellow with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), a member on the esteemed specialist panel for AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) and is a Leading Individual with legal commentator, Legal 500. Sharon comments: “I’m very proud to have been elected as SCIL’s first female chair. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by incredible specialists in their field who have a wealth of knowledge and experience which makes SCIL the ‘go to’ organisation for claimant Clinical Injury lawyers. A lot of the lawyers I work with in my day job and with SCIL have followed a very traditional route into law whereas mine has been quite different. I had an interest in medicine and the law but I did not have any legal qualifications when I joined the firm almost 23 years ago. I was given the opportunity to learn and qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives whilst working and I was able to absorb and focus my efforts on doing the best I could for my clients. That enriching experience has given me a deep and longstanding passion for Access to Justice and fighting for better patient safety and this is a passion I share with my SCIL colleagues. I am delighted that they have the faith in me to Chair the organisation through some challenging times ahead.”

Industrial action to affect Greater Anglia services on 12/13/31 May and 3 June

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Action Short of a Strike will also cause some cancellations from 15 – 20 May inclusive Rail passengers in East Anglia are advised to check before they travel on 12/13/31 May and 3 June when strike action will affect Greater Anglia services. In addition, action short of a strike will lead to some cancellations between 15 and 20 May inclusive. On 12, 31 May and 3 June, there will be a reduced service on a limited number of routes. Most routes, including all regional lines, will have no service at all. Where services do run, they will start later and finish earlier than normal, with start/finish times varying across the network. On 13 May, services will operate between 07.00 and 23.00, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00. Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running. Some of the first services on Sunday 14 May, Thursday 1 June and Sunday 4 June may also be affected. Although these are not strike days, there will be some knock-on effects from the days before. Summary for 12 and 31 May We will operate a reduced service on a limited number of routes. Engineering works will affect some regional and mainline services between Norwich and London on 3 June. Timetables will be released nearer the time.

  • Hourly service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street; Colchester and London Liverpool Street; Southend Victoria and London Liverpool Street; and for Stansted Express services between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street
  • Trains that do run are expected to start from 07.00 onwards, with all last trains operating until mid to late evening and finishing earlier than normal
  • One train every two hours between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street from 08.00 until early evening, with the last train from London back to Cambridge at 18.58
  • No services running on other lines, including on regional/branch lines, other than those listed above

Summary for 13 May On Saturday 13 May many more services will operate with trains running on all Greater Anglia routes, except Hertford East to Broxbourne (passengers are advised to use Hertford North) and for longer hours (between 07.00 and 2300, with all last trains reaching their destination by 23.00). Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but many routes will have a normal or near normal service during the hours that trains are running. Rail replacement buses will run between Ipswich and Colchester, Ely and Cambridge, and Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Summary for 15 – 20 May Due to action short of a strike from 15 – 20 May inclusive, there will be cancellations on many Greater Anglia routes on all of those days. A full list of the cancellations for Monday 15 May to Friday 19 May are included at the end of this release. The cancellations for 20 May will be added to the Greater Anglia website as soon as they are confirmed. Details of services operating on 3 June will be confirmed nearer the time. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said: “We are very sorry that once again our customers will be disrupted by strikes. Customers are advised to check before they travel on all strike days, as the number of services affected varies, with trains operating on very few routes on 12 and 31 May, but on most routes and more frequently on 13 May. The rail industry is working hard to resolve these disputes and talks will continue with ASLEF and RMT to try and reach an agreement.” Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on either the day before or up to two days later, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer. Passenger assistance will be available as usual for all trains which are running. Anyone requiring assistance who cannot avoid travelling by train on strike days should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible. Further information is available from greateranglia.co.uk/strikes

Leadership & Life Chat – To volunteer or not to volunteer? That’s the question. With Voluntary Norfolk

This week, Mark and Becky connect with a local Norfolk organisation, whose insights have global relevance – why businesses should embrace a strong Corporate social responsibility (CSR) package. (And we find out who Mark’s favourite Womble is!) Voluntary Norfolk connects businesses and charitable organisations, to help businesses meet their community objectives. In previous episodes, Mark and Becky have discussed the change in what younger generations are expecting from employers, and how they now look beyond just salary in job searches. CSR forms a huge part of most company employment packages and is a key part of Employer Brand, our guests this week discuss why volunteering initiatives are a popular offering, and the benefits they bring to the employee, as well as the business. Laura is a Volunteer Coordinator, supporting organisations and matching them to volunteers, and Nicola is a HR Consultant at CBR Business Solutions, who works as a consultant to SME businesses and voluntary social enterprises. They discuss the opportunities available to people who have had career breaks and are perhaps lacking in confidence and up to date skills, the changes lockdown brought, and they identify the mental health impact that strong CSR packages are proven to bring to the employee, and how this in turn helps to cultivate a healthy and more profitable work environment. They also discuss how hesitant business owners should see volunteering as an opportunity to identify skills in their teams that they were not aware of, and how neutral environments not based on ‘a night out’ can embolden teamwork and unity, all things that are good for business! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here Show notes Voluntary Norfolk Evolve Workplace Wellbeing podcast UEA tool Institute for Volunteering Research CBR Solutions Get Involved Norfolk Leadership & Life Chat – The Attitude of Gratitude: reap the rewards of appreciation Leadership & Life Chat – The new office and the generation gap The Wombles! Listen here! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

Free safari sculpture trail coming to Chantry Place this summer

From Saturday 22nd July until Sunday 3rd September 2023, Chantry Place Norwich is hosting a free ‘Safari Summer’ event with large animal sculptures, free crafts and educational activities from Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve. Throughout the summer holidays, Chantry Place will be home to 10 animal sculptures, including a giant hippo, lion, giraffe, elephant, panda and more. Visitors can pick up a trail map from Deichmann on the lower ground floor of Chantry Place and then go on a safari hunt to find them all. Once complete, families can head back to Deichmann to pick up a free goody bag offering a complimentary child’s ticket for free entry to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive Reserve with a full paying adult, as well as an animal medal or prize, and enter their details to be in with a chance of winning a family annual pass to Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, with an annual pass up for grabs every week. Every Wednesday in the summer holidays, Chantry Place will host ‘Wild Wednesdays’ with local company, Schoodoodle, hosting free arts and crafts sessions with themes changing every week. Suitable for children aged four and above, these need to be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Some of the activities include making a lion’s mane and a bird of prey mask! As part of Wild Wednesdays, the education team from Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve will also be at Chantry Place. Visitors can visit the discovery station, which will include artefacts, animal information and other zoo-related puzzles and games, on the lower ground floor near HMV. Visitors will have the opportunity to find out more about the animals they care for and about their work. They will also be at Chantry Place on 22nd and 23rd July, and 14th and 15th August 2023. Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “Families can have a fun-filled day exploring Chantry Place this summer, going on our summer safari to find our animal sculptures and learning some animal facts along the way. We are really excited by the partnership we have created with Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve this summer, who are providing an educational link and are generously providing some incredible prizes and offers for people doing the trail. We will be working with SchooDoodle to allow little ones to get creative every Wednesday and we can’t wait to see what they come up with! All our summer activities and events are free at Chantry Place.” Joshua Hunter-Harl, head of marketing at The Zoological Society of East Anglia, the charity that runs Banham Zoo and Africa Alive Reserve, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the ‘Safari Summer’ event at Chantry Place and are excited to engage with visitors through our educational activities. As a conservation charity, education lies at the heart of everything we do, and a trip to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive Reserve offers students of all ages an unmissable opportunity to bring learning to life outside of the classroom. We hope our partnership will help to inspire a love of animals and nature in children and adults alike.” Hannah Cole and Terry Stewart, from team SchooDoodle, comments: “We are so excited to be part of ‘Safari Summer’ at Chantry Place and can’t wait to get creative every Wednesday. We have a different animal themed crafting activity each week. Join us in embracing the mess, empowering creativity, and making memories with your little ones this summer.” Norfolk Wildlife Trust will also be visiting the Centre on Monday 7th August and Monday 21st August and will be educating visitors on urban wildlife, plus hosting free, fun activities for all to enjoy. To book the free SchooDoodle crafts events visit Wild Wednesdays Children’s Arts & Crafts Sessions | Eventbrite For more information on Safari Summer at Chantry Place, visit chantryplace.co.uk

Juggler at Norwich station provides curtain raiser to 2023 Norfolk & Norwich Festival

Greater Anglia continues long-standing sponsorship of key regional arts event Passengers at Norwich station this Thursday morning (11 May), will see juggler and performance artist Dulce Duca, who is appearing at this year’s Festival, performing a short excerpt from her show as a curtain raiser to this year’s Norfolk & Norwich Festival, which begins on Friday 12 May. In addition to providing an unusual station performance, the occasion also marks the key partnership between Greater Anglia and the Festival. Greater Anglia is the Travel Partner for the major regional arts event, extending a relationship between the Festival and the region’s train operator which now stretches back an impressive 33 years to 1990. Over that time, the support of the local train operator has helped the Festival expand from a medium size classical music festival to an internationally recognised arts festival, that is one of the four biggest in the UK – an annual celebration that includes jazz, theatre, dance, outdoor events, visual arts and classical music. At the station from 10.45 on Thursday, Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia and the Festival’s Director, Daniel Brine will briefly outline the benefits of the partnership, as well as the highlights of this year’s Festival. Commenting on the partnership between Greater Anglia and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia said: “Greater Anglia is delighted to be the Travel Partner for the 2023 Norfolk & Norwich Festival, extending a highly successful relationship between the Festival and the region’s railways which now extends back 33 years. We’re also pleased to be holding a curtain raiser event for the Festival at the station again. We have been actively helping to promote the Festival, providing tickets for artists and taking a proactive role in this year’s event, extending our partnership from our first links as Greater Anglia, which began with the start of our first franchise term here in East Anglia in 2012. “Our partnership helps the Festival to go from strength to strength, with a fantastic annual celebration which is fun for audiences and the local community, whilst at the same time supporting the local economy and building Norfolk and Norwich’s reputation.  We hope that this year’s Festival is a great success and that many people will travel to Festival events by train. With new, high quality, comfortable and reliable trains on all our routes in Norfolk, rail travel is an ideal way to make the trip into Norwich.” The partnership between the Festival and the railways, which began in 1990 with a locomotive train naming, has included a special train livery, previous “curtain raiser” performances at the station, community events, employee involvement in the Festival, promotion and marketing of the Festival to a wider audience, special rail travel offers, train tickets for artists, opportunities for corporate hospitality and building wider stakeholder links. With direct train services to Norwich from London, Ipswich, Cambridge, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, festival-goers from across the region can take the train to Festival events. Late night trains operate on Mondays to Saturdays back from Norwich to Cambridge (at 22.40), Lowestoft (at 22.40), Sheringham (at 22.45 – or 23.05 on Fridays and Saturdays), Great Yarmouth (at 23.00) and Ipswich (at 23.05), so the Festival and Greater Anglia are hoping that even more people will use the train to come into Norwich and enjoy this year’s 17 day programme of music, song, dance and performance.

Captain Fawcett’s Great Expedition | One Man. Two Wheels. Over 10,000 miles across 24 countries…

On 7th May Richie Finney, who heads Norfolk-based, multi award-winning gentleman’s grooming company Captain Fawcett, set off on a Great Expedition, an epic solo motorcycle adventure, visiting barbershops across Europe. Taking place in three sections between May and October 2023, The Great Expedition will see host barbershops inviting customers to a local event showcasing the hugely popular Captain Fawcett brand. As the company founder, Richie Finney, who is known as the Captain’s ‘Right Hand Man’, will highlight the best of British Gentleman’s Grooming expertise in his distinctive anecdotal style. Giving attendees the chance to meet the man behind the business, he’ll share inspirational personal stories about how a humble kitchen experiment became an iconic global brand. The road trip aims to connect with barbers, clients, distributors and stockists, who in turn will gain local, national and international exposure though Captain Fawcett’s social media, newsletters and special features on the Captain Fawcett website, where a dedicated Great Expedition page will follow the Right Hand Man and his barbershop destinations using a live tracker. Richie Finney says: “From somewhat humble beginnings in 2010, Captain Fawcett has become an international lifestyle brand, exported to 38 countries with distribution agreements in over 27. As well as winning multiple global awards, we have affiliations with some of the industry’s most celebrated global brand ambassadors. In fact, for four years running, Captain Fawcett has been recognised as a DBT British Export Champion. I have always been a great believer in the importance of real life connection, enormously curious about the world and its people. Which is fortunate because I’ve learned that in-country knowledge is really crucial when building relationships in overseas markets. “Furthermore, whilst AI may well be fiendishly clever, it cannot replicate the sheer spontaneous joy of simply being human. By its very nature, the traditional barbershop experience is hands-on. As well as sprucing up one’s appearance, having a delightfully relaxing shave or haircut, the barbershop environment is all about having a chat, a laugh, a drink, a hug, a handshake. It’s about the sensual things – scent of perfume, a head massage, a luxurious close shave. These tangible moments of connection combat isolation and celebrate togetherness. They are the stuff of life! “We’ve created a fantastic itinerary of Barbershop gatherings, meeting highly esteemed colleagues old and new. I’m enormously excited to be out on the road again seeing chums face-to-face, in real life as it should be –Huzzah!” Use the Live Tracker to follow the Right Hand Man as he rides through Europe in real time! Tune into Fawcett’s Diary for regular updates from the road… photos, stories and up to the minute mayhem guaranteed! https://www.captainfawcett.com/pages/the-great-expedition Host barbershops are marked on a specially designed maphighlighting the route. Hover over the map to reveal the stops. PART TWO | JUNE/JULY 2023 Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Gdańsk, Berlin, Luxembourg & Antwerp. PART THREE | SEP/OCT 2023 South Germany, Czech, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland & Paris.

“It’s something I’m deeply passionate about and I still feel I’m helping to provide a valuable service” – former Care Manager Caroline is now a dedicated EACH volunteerl

A former children’s hospice employee who swapped nursing for volunteering says she would recommend it to anyone. Caroline Church was Care Manager at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ former Quidenham base. After retiring four years ago, she wanted to stay connected with the charity and now spares four hours a week to help at the EACH shop in Aylsham Road, Norwich. She also gives her time to support the wellbeing team at The Nook, in Framingham Earl, which replaced Quidenham and was opened by The Princess of Wales in November 2019. “EACH makes such an enormous difference to the children and families it cares for and supports,” said Caroline, who was speaking during the charity’s Be the Difference campaign – a fortnight-long drive to recruit more volunteers for its 46 shops. “I was always aware of the importance of the shops, during my time as an employee. “However, now I’m on the other side of the fence and get a completely different perspective of all the amazing work that goes on in the community. “In terms of the shops, they only function thanks to the hard work, dedication and commitment of volunteers. “Without these wonderful people, they wouldn’t be able to operate because there are only a limited number of paid staff. “It’s so inspiring and volunteering is definitely something I’d recommend to anyone.” Caroline, who lives in Sprowston, started working for EACH in 2008, joining the team as a nurse before progressing to become Care Manager. “When I took early retirement, I wanted to carry on supporting the organisation,” said the 59-year-old, who is married with two grown-up children and three grandsons. “I’m passionate about the care it provides at end of life, from diagnosis onwards, and the bereavement support families receive afterwards. “That care is not available anywhere else. “It’s something I’m deeply passionate about and, by volunteering, I still feel I’m helping to provide a valuable service. “It’s also allowed me to remain connected to the charity, which is important to me. “I’ve met some lovely new friends and enjoy chatting to customers, knowing the money raised is helping to promote excellent care and support. “I also support the wellbeing team at various groups and events, including child support groups, sibling groups, bereavement events and the Christmas party. “It’s fantastic to see the children and families gaining so much and it’s a lot of fun.” EACH relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone it needs to raise £6.5 million from its Retail operation, which includes stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex and a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk

“Why not pop into your nearest shop, find out more about becoming a volunteer and help us raise even more money for this fantastic charity?” – EACH’s Be the Difference recruitment drive is launched to inspire more retail volunteers

Would-be charity shop volunteers are being encouraged to step forward and join a record-breaking retail team. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has launched its Be the Difference campaign – a fortnight-long drive to recruit more help in its 46 shops. The charity plans to shine a spotlight on existing volunteers by releasing a series of features outlining why they choose to help. At the same time, it also hopes to hear from others interested in joining the team and playing a part in its continued success. EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia. “The last financial year saw another 12 months of outstanding achievement,” said EACH Director of Retail and Trading Ian Nicolson. “Almost all our shops achieved record sales and this helped us contribute more to the charity than ever before. “I’ve run out of superlatives to describe our trading success and, in addition to thanking staff, so much of the credit goes to our amazing volunteers. “My gratitude to them has never been more heartfelt and there’s never been a better time to join our winning team. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do – it simply wouldn’t be possible without them – and the money we generate helps our charity continue its vital work. “As we start the new financial year, I have great confidence that the coming year will be another successful one for our wonderful team. “Why not pop into your nearest shop, find out more about becoming a volunteer and help us raise even more money for this fantastic charity?” EACH has 46 shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk and its 47th is due to open in Frinton-on-Sea on 25th May. The charity also has a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. EACH’s last Be the Difference campaign was hailed an “outstanding success” after inspiring more than 100 newcomers. That tally consisted of 36 in Norfolk, 26 in North Essex, 20 in Suffolk, 16 in Cambridgeshire and six in EACH’s Royston shop, just across the Hertfordshire border. Hopes are high for similar success this time around. Hannah Milbourne, Volunteer Services and Development Manager, said: “Extra help is always needed and volunteers have an absolutely crucial role to play. “They make such a difference and, quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to run our shops – and therefore go on to provide the care that we do to families – without them. “We’d be very pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining our team and, while we’d obviously love people to offer a regular slot, just a morning or afternoon makes the world of difference. “We have shops across the region, in the heart of the community, and there are various roles available, from serving customers to sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items. “The hours are completely flexible, to fit in with busy lives, and a friendly welcome is assured. “We’d also love to hear from anyone interested in helping out, even if it’s just a short-term arrangement like students being home on their university holiday.” EACH relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and, this year alone, just from its retail operation, it needs to raise £6.5 million. For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk A full list of the shop locations can be found here. There are other ways to support EACH, including helping its facilities, events, fundraising and administration teams, or being part of the charity’s Help at Home service.  

“We hope the money helps in some way, because it’s a very good cause for very deserving little people” – motorcycling pals clock up 1,500 miles in 32 hours and raise more than £3,500 for EACH

Determined motorcyclists raised more than £3,500 for charity after embarking on a mammoth trek to all four corners of the UK. Ian Charlesworth, Chris Tebbit, Robert McDonald and Ethan and John Stenner visited the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly and Western points used for motorcycle riding feats within 32 hours. Starting at John O’Groats, in Scotland, they headed to St Davids, on the Welsh coast, and Land’s End, in Cornwall, before finishing in Lowestoft. The epic journey was in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and they revved into action at the crack of dawn on Saturday, 29th April. Salesman Ian and technician Ethan are colleagues at Reiten Motorrad, in Glemsford. John is Ethan’s dad while Chris and Robert are friends from Tect Risk Services and A2B Motorcycle Movers respectively. “There were a few minor hick-ups, including a couple of punctures, snow, rain and fog so bad you couldn’t see more than 20 yards,” said Ian, who lives in Stowmarket. “However, we completed the challenge safely and got back in one piece. “It took us 32 hours from start to finish and the whole journey was more than 1,500 miles. “To do that in one day, only stopping for fuel and snacks, was hard going but an amazing experience. “We were all chuffed and, apart from a few back and knee aches, we’re all pretty much back to normal.” Ian and Co. rode on BMW motorbikes and were delighted to raise so much for EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia. “We were amazed by the support,” added Ian, 47. “Lots of people wanted to know about our fundraising and they donated money wherever we went. “Before heading off on our challenge, we even had a letter of support from South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge. “We hope the money helps in some way, because it’s a very good cause for very deserving little people.” Ethan lives in Glemsford, John in Halstead, Essex, and Chris and Robert in Little Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire. To add to the total and support the group, head here. EACH has three hospices – The Treehouse, in Ipswich, The Nook, near Norwich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. Images provided by EACH